Wellington, May 19 NZPA - Christchurch will host the fourth US-NZ Partnership Forum in February next year.

Announced by NZUS Council executive director Stephen Jacobi in Washington today, the three-day meeting starting on February 20 will bring together 100 senior New Zealand and United States "thought leaders and influencers" to discuss how to enhance the relationship between the two countries.

The forum has met three times since 2006, including two meetings in Washington and one in Auckland.

"The forum has successfully established new momentum in the relationship and provided an important platform for both governments to take it to a whole new level," Mr Jacobi said.

He said the relationship would be critical to New Zealand as it sought to conclude Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations with the United States and six other partners.